Casino ? Valco

[jedistar]

These pictures and story were sent to me yesterday. Does anyone know anything about Casino brand? The red one..Casino is very faded in headstock...
"As you can see from the pictures, there are a lot of similarities between this guitar and the Valco made Supro/Airline style guitars.
Namely short-scale 'baseball bat' neck held on by two retaining screws, wooden bridge, knobs and pick-guard similarities.
One of the shots, of the headstock shows a ghostly image of 'Casino' 'brand'.
Pickup appears to be the same as the Supro Sahara style though so far I haven't worked out what's holding it to the body. I'm guessing one of the 'pole pieces'.
The seller believed it to be a DeArmond pickup?
It came with the original lightweight hardcase with an alligator style print. Judging by the pots I'm guessing it's a March 1965 manufacture or close to it.

[simonm]

This looks very much like the Tosca-branded Valco cheapies, but with a different headstock design.

I've also seen one of these with the brand Minuetta. So Casino is yet another to add to the list. The foil serial number makes the date 1964-68. The pickup is the same type that was used on most Supro/National/Airline gtrs, a Valco-owned patent - the pole pieces on the E strings double as screws, going direct into the top of the body.

[simonm]

there's a Tosca brand one on ebay this week, exactly the same, same headstock too.

[jedistar]

[sohosteve]

Hey simonm,
Thanks a lot dude!
You've solved a mystery for me.
I'm the owner of the Casino. I knew it was some kind of Valco/Supro thang but you've helped fill in a few blanks.
Thanks again.

[simonm]

[sohosteve]

[john_rossdale]

Havent heard of these brands but I think the Valco guitar looks really nice.. I could really well if i use this..

[sohosteve]

The black and silver one is for sale at the moment in London for £475 ono including a cool vintage hard case.
Demo on Youtube if you search for 1959 Supro